The following are scores obtained by some students in a test. Find the median score    8 18 10 14 18 11 13 14 13 17 15 8 16 13

Analyze the question: We need the median of 14 scores. The median is the middle value when the data is arranged in order.

Concept: For n values arranged in order:

• If n is odd, the median is the middle value.
• If n is even, the median is the average of the two middle values, the (n/2)th and (n/2 + 1)th values.

Step 1: Arrange the scores in ascending order

Original: 8, 18, 10, 14, 18, 11, 13, 14, 13, 17, 15, 8, 16, 13

Sorted: 8, 8, 10, 11, 13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 18

Count check: 14 values, so n = 14.

Step 2: Find the middle positions

n = 14, so the middle values are the 7th and 8th.

• 1st: 8
• 2nd: 8
• 3rd: 10
• 4th: 11
• 5th: 13
• 6th: 13
• 7th: 13
• 8th: 14
• 9th: 14
• 10th: 15
• 11th: 16
• 12th: 17
• 13th: 18
• 14th: 18

Step 3: Compute the median

Median = (13 + 14) / 2 = 27 / 2 = 13.5

Tip: Always sort the data first and count your values to confirm n. With an even n, the median is the average of the two middle values. It often falls between two data points, like 13.5 here. Also, double-check that you've included repeated values (like the three 13s) in your sorted list, since missing one shifts the middle positions.